re: #84 karmic_inquisitor

Punitive damages, pain and suffering and other such awards are what drive up the bills. That is where the focus needs to fall. These are intangibles and are the area that trial lawyers play up in terms of getting juries to soak “the rich doctors and their rich insurance companies” for some huge amount to teach them a lesson they won’t forget.

and let us not forget that the lawyers who take these cases are paid ONLY if they win, but if they WIN (includes settlements) they get anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the total award. So pain and suffering is where most of the lawyers also get the biggest part of their fees.